Am I Going Crazy? (Fraha)

[Ethan]

Ethan walked with silent foots steps and had a quick pace. The bronze forest was getting more dense with each foot step. The high trees and wide branches covering the pair from the bright moon. His eyes picked up every spec of light but it was still uncomfortably dark. Like a blanket without warmth or comfort. Simply blinding you and keeping your enemies hidden. He listened to her soft words and smiled despite himself. She had an inn and would treat him to a meal? Was it him or was everyone trying to feed him. It was well appreciated though. He ate like a horse and was never full. If he had to pay for each meal he would be broke. His answer was stopped when he looked down. She absolutely glowed in the dark whenever the moonlight touched her soft skin. She looked so peaceful and happy with her eyes close, that he couldn't bother her. She seemed as though she was concentrating on something profound. He glanced around every couple of seconds but remained focused on the woman he carried. She took the arm from around his neck and had it over her chest. The smile touched from cheek to cheek when she giggled quietly. He wanted to ask her what she was thinking about when she moaned. It was soft and nearly silent. If he hadn't been paying attention he might of missed it. Color rose in his cheeks and his smile turned sly. She must be thinking about something... Entertaining, and while he carried her. When she started talking, he realized the moan wasn't anything sexual and to his surprise she started speaking about flying... For the second time this season he started to get a little red in his cheeks. Why were humans always wanting to fly? First Hadrian and now Fraha! He was flattered and started to laugh quietly. Not wanting to bug her especially while she yawned. He didn't notice how cute she was until she yawned. “Yes Fraha it is very amazing to think about. Every muscle and twitch controlling your movements. The feel of wind threw your feathers and brushing against the skin beneath. Freedom of going any where but the adventure of weathering each trip. Earning your keep among the clouds. The feel of flying threw a thin cloud and having the wisps cling onto your back. Cold and wet. Of course they are too light to sleep on.” His eyes were looking off and his voice was distant, as if thinking too much. Whenever he explained the feeling it made him appreciate it a whole lot more. Human's got how amazing it was, and for that he was impressed by their simple insight. He started to remember everything else she said. “You fainted earlier Fraha. I won't have you walking around and slowing us down. Besides I never tire, We will be at the fortress in no time and then we feast and dine. And sleep and gossip” He laughed heavily besides himself. “Now before you got ill, what were you saying about your childhood? Something about a boy that used to travel?”

[Fraha]

Melted on his arms Fraha listened to him talking about flying. She was trying to immagine the whole proccess of his words, and soon she felt like she was in her bed at home, in Yahebah while her father would make her sleep. She was a night creature since her early childhood, and sleeping at night was ""a waste of seeable beauty"" as she called it back then. However, being hold like that by Ethan made her feel warm and comfortable like when she was a little child. A slight wave of sleepiness pervaded her. She could tell from that slight spin in her head, and for a moment she thought that she could fall asleep under Ethan's words. Un that moment though He said about her fainting and that made her feel guilty for what she had done. She would probably tell him that it wasn't true but in a second moment. Never tyred huh? asked she she thought that it was just normal male pride. She wanted to ask about his program in Syliras but then he asked her. Fraha opened the eyes and looked at him, leaving the immaginary coulds she was hollowing on. Yeah, Scheza, he was of the desert people, the ones that don't stay in Yahebah but travel along the desert another lack of hoxygen made her Yaawn so she moved again the the back of the hand against the mouth. Sorry...so we once met casually and it ended up that we sat and talked a lot. He told me about his travels and what has he seen, which pretty much made me want to do the same. So I run away said she ending the sentence with a slight giggle. She didn't knew why she would tell that she ran away. In some was Fraha probably wanted him to ask more, she never told anyone those things.

[Ethan]

The sounds of Ethan's bare feet padding threw the damp leaves was soothing to his ears. The feeling of Fraha's warm body pressed against his chest was even more comforting. She was very light, almost brittle in his arms but contained a vast amount of heat. When she began to speak he carefully listened. Interested in her life and if this boy was something special to her... The word Yahebah was still a little strange to him. He never heard of the city but he was intrigued about the people. Other cultures always interested him, and he listened quietly to the rest of her story. He had to chuckle himself when she said she ran away. So free and whimsical. It was an interesting trait he never really saw in a person before. She did as she pleased and he liked that. It was a show of strength to pick up roots and take to the roads like that. Strength and a little foolhardy. Especially if she lost her way so easily. “I admire you on your courage Fraha. Its very daring of such a young woman. I hope you didn't need naked men to carry you around too often.” He smirked and lifted her up higher on his chest to even out the weight. He shook her a little while he did so, to emphasis his point. “Was your home harsh? I couldn't imagine just leaving the city on a whim.” He paused a bit before he spoke. “Was that boy a... lover of yours? He must have been pretty convincing to make you leave.” He felt his heart flutter in his chest nervously. It made him a little nervous to think that he was nervous about such a silly thing. She was nice that much was true, but he shouldn't worry himself over her lovers. His eyes casually scanned the darkness, but his tone betrayed his feelings. Besides his anxiety over Fraha's lovers It seemed like they were having a lot of luck tonight. No predators around to feast on they're flesh. “Tell me more about your travels. Was it harsh? What have you seen so far.” He paused to smile. “Am I the greatest thing you have seen so far? The way you gawked I would of thought you have never seen a man before.” He laughed and held her a little closer to his chest affectionately, as they walked. While he was doing so his mind snapped into life with an idea. With one last good look around the forest for predators and obstacles. He had about three minutes of good walking without any roots or low branches. Quickly he withdrew into his mind and called on his soul. The same energy and spirit he used to change. This time he focused and concentrated deeply. He had done it a couple of days ago with Hadrian help but ever since then it took more out of him. In all skills you must be terrible and struggle to finally get in the right rhythm. With each day he practiced he got better. The familiar moment of nothing... right before the inside of his heart felt a gentle tug and the world became different. At first it truly hurt when everything came into focus. All the bright colors and Aura's pained him. He learned to focus on one thing while he called on the magic. He mentally fixed himself on Fraha, the thoughts, feelings, smells and touch of the young woman. The world around him went pitch black and the Aura of Fraha began to shine as she lay in his chest. His mind at first was very unfocused and all that he felt was the huge essence of her soul. Like a shroud of mist pouring down from her a couple feet in every direction. This is Fraha's soul. This is the Aura she gives off. This is her in her barest form. He mentally took it in for a moment. Soaked in the idea of her. The feel of her soul. It was all so over whelming. He had practiced on animals and himself. Nothing this large since he practiced with Hadrian though. With Ethan's eye sight being so powerful. He relied on touch when if came to Aura's. It was strange the way he saw what he felt. Almost like the two senses mixed. So what he felt from Fraha was very interesting. Her body vibrated and shimmered with an almost erratic rhythm. Like a wave of thousands of tiny bubbles were exploding on his skin. All in different areas and times. Strangely enough he could also feel the color of her soul. It was a vibrant light green surrounding a green white mist. Bursting of spring and changing all the time. Her soul felt as beautiful as she was.

[Fraha]

Fraha Giggled at Ethan's naked men sentence. It was her first time after all and as he shook her a bit of lucidity returned to her mind. No, actually you're the first one, the only other piece of a man's body I saw was an injured shoulder I had to heal She renembered about Zakal and how she met him. It wasn't a good memory altrough an important one but in that moment, lying in his arms, she felt really safe. That feeling was amplified by the thought of the Glassbeaks attack and compared to that moment she felt like behind a steel wall safe. Ethan was literally closing her to him, but why? Fraha thought it was cause his arms were starting to feel the strain of her weight. Ethan started to ask questions, a lot of them but specially one dragged Fraha's attention. Why would he ask about lover? Fraha Chuckled slightly since Scezha was 6 years old and Fraha 7 when they met, and they like hanged around for a day or two. Not more. But still why would Ethan ask? hmmm, could it be...? She thought that he lifted her closer not because of the fatigue. But never mind, Fraha found herself covered by questions. It was like being interrogated but in a good way, Fraha wasn't used to so much attension. Ethan stopped his talk and stood silent, so Fraha slightly blushing about the questions thought he was waiting answers. Well said she after scratching under the headband with the index and the medium finger No my home wasn't harsh, quite the contrary to be fair, I used to help my mother, play with my bothers and train with my father. We used to go around and sometimes brawl too, it was nice. She made a short break and took a breath But as I met Scezha my conception changed, well not basically changed, it grew Fraha's words began to gain speed, a typical aspect of Fraha to start talking quite fast when there's a lot to be told. it grew because he was a traveller and taught me of something i never have seen, things that i could only immagine. ita Was then that I realized that I must go around and see everything by myself, So I one night took the necessary and escaped, i had to because my parents didn't want to leave me go she sighed as speaking so quick wasn't easy. so I wen't trought the desert of Eyktol, Cyphrus and Sylira untill I came here. She then stopped to think of what else he had asked when the sentence never seen a man before popped in her mind so she blushed a lot renembering the first time she saw him. and now it's not the first time i've seen a man said she frustrated. Not wanting to sound like a little girl she also added To your knowledge i've seen a lot actual.. Fraha stopped as she realized that what's she saying was horrible, not to speak about her previous statement. no, wai, i meant, aah, damn, it's not, it's not what i mean dammit! said she raising a bit her voice, angry at herself. She was a terrible liar and she knew it. it doesn't matter, my reaction was because i simply saw a naked man in a forest at night and I was already shocked because i almost felt after a damn eagle scared the soul out of me Fraha was, embarracced for her fails and Ethan's carefull listening was even more embaraccing. She decided to not think of it thought, at least not too much, and tried to change subject What about you? I only know your name and that's it... she said a bit sceptical but with a smile. Ethan looked very concentrated, too concentrated. Everything ok? asked she

[Ethan]

With Fraha in arm he was deeply concentrating as he walked. The Aura around the young woman was still thick and flowed out in all directions like smoke. It took all of his concentration to get the Aura even that defined. As she began to speak he listened intently. He gave a strained smile as she told him he was the first man she saw naked. Her light golden green aura shifted about but he couldn't tell what it meant. Even if he couldn't interpret like Hadrian. He could still hear the Va Vump of the heart in her chest. When she spoke it quickened, making Ethan smile. She must be nervous or excited. Either way it was a cute reaction while she talked about seeing him naked. When she began speaking of her family he was a little shocked. She explained about her parents and the nice little family they had. The only reason she left was because she hadn't seen the world yet. It was such a strange reason to leave, but understandable. Human's often felt this need for adventure and the unknown. It was nothing weird, just different than what he was raised with. The most interesting part about her speaking was her Aura though. It grew slightly more golden in a very specific. The thudding of her heart was a wave of solid sound that would splash against his face and chest. It was particularly straining to focus, while her voice sent their own vibrations in a much higher smoother sound. He had to focus intently on the center of the golden Aura while listening to both the heart and voice. It proved hard at first but he cleared his mind and focused. Eventually he noticed the loud beats and vibration came from the same place as the golden area in her Aura. In fact the gold seemed to splash towards him with the heart beat. Ethan was deeply amazed with this. He had found Fraha's heart! Days before when he trained alone. The vibrations would scatter the Aura and make it hard to concentrate. Now he seemed to be able to differentiate them, getting better each day. When she spoke again he was amazed at what he saw. Through out her Aura, light reds flushed and mixed around with the the light green winds, but only I a small area far above her heart.. He realized that was the point where her voice was coming from too. Now he had an idea where her head was and she was flushing red. He still didn't know why, but was captivated none the less. She started tripping over her words. Saying that she had seen a lot of naked men. Ethan thought that a little odd and must be why her Aura was turning red. He didn't want to assume it was embarrassment though. When she got angry, saying he knew what she meant and that it didn't matter. Her face turned a bright crimson and the area around her chest turned the same color. Mixing in with the gold and green parts of her soul. Without a doubt he knew it was anger. Even her heart beat quickened and splashed golden red on his body and face. It was interesting how anger spread and infected the Spirit like that. He waited patiently as her aura receded to green and gold again, while she asked about him instead. She also said something about his look and Ethan realized his eyes were hardly opened this whole time. Knowing he couldn't take much more concentration, he let go of the Aura. The images left instantaneously. Like Straining with a heavy load then dropping it suddenly. He felt relieved to be free of the mental burden but it also hurt in a way. His eyes slowly relaxed and returned to the pitch black night around them. “Me... Well I'm no one. Just a naked man patrolling the forest. Helping girls who are stupid enough to sleep and fall out of trees..” He teased her with a weary smile. The magic took its toll on his body, and he was slowly starting to feel the repercussions. “I have had a fairly normal life though” His eyes felt so dry and hollow. His smile was even worse off but he tried to keep up appearances. Despite his sense of fatigue. It wasn't so much physical as it was mental. Speaking about such a taxing subject wasn't probably the best under the circumstances but she deserved to know him a little more at least. He held her up and closer to his body. Relishing the heat of her dark bare skin, and took comfort and strength in it. “My childhood wasn't the best. My... Father was a harsh man, he wasn't cruel. Never really beat me or anything, just didn't love like a father should. You know?” Ethan walked for a moment in silence. Trying not to wonder about his old master but it was no use. The man always haunted his dreams. The day he was lost at sea. How Ethan nearly died searching the ocean's til he grew thin and frail with lack of sleep and food. “His name was Grimm” He smiled at the though, it was always a strange name. “Captain Grimdalph, Grimm for short. Silly, I know but he was a good man. Strong and fearless. Taught me everything I know.. ” Ethan gave out a short sigh. “He was lost at sea though when I was a child.” He decided to just say it quick and try to forget. “So I have been on my own ever since. Sunberth, Syliras, Cobalt Mountains. The bronze forest is my favorite place of all. Although its not safe for young girls like you.” He jested and again held her close. Letting out a long breathe of comfort rather than stress. “I'm only telling you this because you seem nice and trust worthy. Don't mess that up.”

[Fraha]

It took Ethan a few moments to answer, he seemed very concentraded and after her call he seemed like he stopped. Finally he opened the mouth and words, slightly less lightly than before, came out from it. Fraha went skeptical when he spoke about normal life and as he made that joke she giggled and punched him slightly on the chest, she was about to couterjoke about it when Ethan continued talking about fathers. You know? echoed in her head, she didn't know, she had an amazing father. Grimm, awesome name for a capitain, but as she heard that he was lost in the seas she felt terrible. A vision of her childhood with her father dead popped in her mind and it was terrible. If Ethan would use auristics now he would've sensed fear. His other words had so less meaning to her since that. How could he be such a bright helping and joking guy with that thing inside him? I'm sorry for you Ethan, so sorry her eyes become lucid without her noticing it. She raised arms and hugged him tightly, i would never tell by looking at you Fraha said while having her jaw placed on his shoulder. She decided to not let herself fall in others people emotions and to walk by her own so she used Ethan as a support to lift the legs, let them fall forward on his side and flick them back outwards gaining the inertia to jump away from Ethan. She left the hold as she felt physics pulling her out and in an instant landed half meter in front of him. I won't mess it up said she switching theme. By how much until we reach Sy...waah Fraha was walking backwards and didn't think of possible terrian roots on the ground.at her second step she ha placed the foot right next to an outgrown root and, of course, on her third step her movement got stuck by it, causing her to loose balance. She lifted the front leg as she felt her self falling backwards, landing sitting. liras... said she with low and disappointed voice, angry at herself for the fail.

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[Archon]

Illumination of Development Ethan +5 Auristics +4 Observation +4 Persuasion +3 Interrogation +3 Body Building +2 Seduction +2 Stealth Lores: Screams aren't subtle, Slapping isn't good medicine, Fraha's Aura Care to see more? : Auristics experience for your use of the skill, Observation experience for paying so much attention to everything, Persuasion experience for getting Fraha to trust you, Interrogation experience for asking lots of questions, Body Building experience for carrying Fraha around, Seduction experience for the flirting, and Stealth experience for being stealthy. I would have awarded more Stealth experience, but I felt you had Ethan being a little too silent for someone with just 1 point in Stealth. Fraha +5 Acrobatics +5 Climbing +4 Storytelling +3 Seduction +3 Rhetoric +2 Subterfuge +2 Observation +1 Intimidation +1 Running Lores: Beware eagles in trees, Dealing with a naked man, Not all strangeness is in dreams Care to see more? : Acrobatics and Climbing experience for your lovely climbing of the tree, Storytelling experience for sharing so much information, Seduction experience for the flirting, Rhetoric experience for the other bits of conversation, Subterfuge experience for the fake faint, Observation experience for trying to pay attention in the dark, Intimidation experience for the subtle threat, and Running experience for the bit of running. Notes: A very interesting thread to read. I particularly loved Fraha's reaction to the strange events, and Ethan's work at using and describing Auristics. It was a little jarring having it end so suddenly. I'd like to see what happens next. Feel free to PM me with questions or concerns.